I’ve Gotta Ride Like the Wind – The Diner, Tristan Makes a Decision

Brennan: {Brennan gets in the car with Aubrey, starts it up and pulls out onto the street}Aubrey: {Aubrey looks over at him}Brennan: {glances over at her, looks back at the road}Aubrey: {looks out the side window} I didn’t remember until I saw you.Brennan: {shakes his head} Shut up and listen to me for a minute. {looks at her} That week was a clusterfuck for me. Between you and my grandmother I barely had time to take a piss. When you didn’t show up at the apartment and didn’t answer the phone, I thought you changed your mind. When you stopped showing up for work, I figured you got the job in D.C. and just decided to stay with David. Then Ethan called me one night and tells me he ran into you at the diner and you went home with him and that you were trying to get back with David. So, I figured fuck it. Then he calls me this morning and tells me you and David had a big thing at his parent’s house and it came out you didn’t remember anyone or anything from before the accident. I got on the first flight I could get.Aubrey: {looks over at him} You’re not pissed?Brennan: {shakes his head} Oh, I was. {looks at her} How the fuck am I gonna be pissed now that I know what I know, though? But you’ve gotta look me in the eye and tell me that now that you *do* remember, you and David are done.Aubrey: {holds his look} I do remember and David and I are done. {shakes her head} That fight was…just I mean it reminded me of why we broke up.Brennan: {looks back at the road} Cuz it was too much like your parents?Aubrey: {nods} Yeah. It really was..I mean even some of the shit comin’ out of our mouths was the same shit my parents said to each other.Brennan: {nods} We’ve had our share our fights, but we never got *that* bad.Aubrey: {looks out the window} Our fights are different though.. they aren’t as..brutal.Brennan: {nods} That’s what I’m saying. {looks at her} You’ve *never* been happy with him, Aubrey.Aubrey: {shakes her head} I just don’t know why I remembered him and not you. {looks down} Jesus Brennan, you’re the reason I was even headed to DC to begin with.. you know. We had a plan.Brennan: {shakes his head} Maybe because I wasn’t here?Brennan: {looks at her} After Ethan told me about the amnesia shit, I was thinking maybe you did remember me. Like.. maybe *that’s* why you went home with *him*. Cuz you and Ethan never really seemed to have that vibe before.Brennan: {shrugs} And me and him look and act a lot more alike then me and Van.Aubrey: {tilts her head} You mean like maybe I subconsciously knew or recognized you? I went home with him because I was comfortable with him, and because..honestly I just didn’t want to be alone anymore. You know.. I”d spent four weeks in a hospital bed without any real contact. And when they recognized me it was like “oh thank god *some*one knows me. {shrugs} It was kind of like I didn’t exist before the accident. And I was beginning to wonder if I did or not After. Does that make any sense.Brennan: {nods} Yeah, it does. {looks at her} And maybe you were comfortable with him because he was familiar.Aubrey: {nods} Maybe. {shrugs} I don’t know.Brennan: {looks at the road again} Or maybe I’m just fucked and wanna believe the first guy you jumped into bed with after comin’ back was my brother wasn’t just a coincidence.Aubrey: {shakes her head} Brennan, I went to the diner for food… I don’t think it was.Brennan: {nods, pulls over in front of her building, turns in his seat to face her, looks at her} I have to ask this.. do you feel anything for me at all anymore or is that gone, too?Aubrey: {looks him in the eye} Brennan when you walked in I remembered everything. No it’s not gone. It was like I’d been living in a dream or nightmare with David and when I answered that question it was the truth. I remember you, my body remembers you, you’re the one I want to be with. I love you.Brennan: {smiles} That’s all I needed to hear.Brennan: {leans over, puts a hand to the back of her head, pulls her toward him, kisses her passionately}Aubrey: {returns his kiss with her own fire, her arms slipping around his neck}Brennan: {slips his hand into her hair, kisses her for a few minutes more, breaks the kiss and looks at her, quietly} This is the last time, baby. The next time there’s another guy between us, we’re done.Aubrey: {Aubrey nods} I know.. it won’t happen again.Aubrey: {blinks} You said that the last time and that’s why I was ending things with David.Brennan: {smiles, nods} Yeah. And it’s worse cuz he’s my friend. {looks at her} I’ve got some decisions to make now, that I’m gonna need to think about.Aubrey: {looks at him} I know. What decisions and can I help with them?Brennan: {looks at her} I’ve gotta decide if I’m gonna sell the house and stay here or if I’m gonna take you back with me. Cuz I don’t see us doing a bullshit long distance thing. Not if we want this to work.Aubrey: {shakes her head} Baby, I know how much that house means to you. I know what your grandmother meant to you.Brennan: {nods} I know. It does and she does. {looks at her} But she’s gone now and you’re here and I don’t think she’d be real happy if I walked away from you over a house. And that’s what she’d say. It’s a *house*. Wood and stone. It’s the people you share it with that make it a home.Aubrey: {nods} You know it’s not our only option.Brennan: {looks at her curiously} Yeah? What else is there?Aubrey: I could go there.Brennan: {smiles} I said that was an option.Aubrey: {smiles} Right. {looks at him} you going to come in?Brennan: {looks at her} What do you think?Aubrey: {shrugs} I’m not assuming anything.. but if you don’t.. I’ll be disappointed.Brennan: {turns off the car} I’ve still got my key. {looks ather, smiles} And I wasn’t planning on giving it back.Brennan: ather=at herAubrey: {smiles} Good. I wasn’t gonna ask for it back.Brennan: {smiles, gets out of the car, walks around and waits for her}Aubrey: {climbs out of the car, walks over to him, looks at him} Baby, I’m sorry about your grandmother, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.Brennan: {shakes his head} Don’t. I wasn’t here for you.Aubrey: {looks at him} Bren, you didn’t know how could you have been? It wasn’t fair of me to throw that at you.Brennan: {looks at her} Look.. I’m not really in the mood for apologies right now. We could stand here all night apologizing for the shit we’re sorry for or we can just let it go and start over.Aubrey: {looks at him} All right. I’m thinking starting over is probably good.Brennan: {smiles} I’m good with that one, too.Aubrey: {takes his hand and heads toward the building}Brennan: {goes with her, looks over at her} I missed you. It’s been a rough month and I’m ready for it to be over.Aubrey: {looks over at him} I feel like I’m finally home. {looks ahead} Like I knew something was missing or not right.. you know?Brennan: {nods} Yeah, I do. It’s funny how the big shit doesn’t seem so big anymore.. how much shit you can forgive and forget.. when you lose someone you love.Brennan: {looks at her} When all you want is for them to come back.Aubrey: {stops and turns to him, stepping to him wraps her arms around him, holding on to him tightly}Brennan: {wraps his arms around her, hugs her back, closes his eyes, quietly} I was talking about you.Aubrey: {buries her face in the hair at his neck} Baby.. I’m.. I’m here now.Brennan: {moves a hand to the back of her head, nods, quietly} I know. Me, too.Aubrey: {whispers against his neck} And the next time I go do something like that.. I’m taking you with me. {softly} But I’m glad you weren’t that time.Brennan: {pulls back, kisses her on the temple} All right. Enough of this shit. {grabs her and heaves her over his shoulder, smacks her ass} You’ve got something to prove.Aubrey: {laughs, and smacks his ass back} Oh yeah? And how exactly am I proving it?Brennan: {smiles} If you actually knew what I was talking about, you wouldn’t have to ask that question.Aubrey: {smiles} Oh I know.. {grins} I was just wondering on my back or on my knees?Brennan: {laughs} Yeah, that’s not what I’m talking about. Exactly.Brennan: {smiles} All you’ve gotta do is get naked and spread your legs. I’ll do the rest.Brennan: {thinks} Well.. actually you *could* do the work while I watch. I mean, you *did* practically volunteer in front of all of our friends.Aubrey: {smiles} Sounds like that’s what you’re talkin’ about. What am I provin’? {blinks} Shit.Brennan: {smiles when she says “shit”, carries her into the building}